Please note: this is an old article
It was published in November 2016, so the information may be out-of-date.
Small business does not only form the engine of the Australian economy, it is an important part of the rich cultural framework that shapes our diverse communities.
Like many people who grew up in the 1980s, small businesses such as the local milk bar and green grocer were a big part of my childhood. But while the importance of small business from a cultural and economic perspective is unquestionable, their long-term viability is. For that reason in November, Australians are urged to visit their local shops as part of Shop Small – an American Express initiative aimed at supporting small businesses.
Shop Small has partnered with respected photographer and cultural archivist, Eamon Donnelly, to capture some examples of what makes small businesses in Australia so unique. Over the last few years, Mr Donnelly has been on a personal mission to preserve the image of the suburban milk bar, capturing striking and poignant images of some of the country’s most unique and iconic small businesses.
It all started about 10 years ago when Mr Donnelly returned to his home town of Geelong and retraced the steps from his home to his old corner store called “Dave’s”. When he arrived he discovered Dave’s had long closed and a rusted tin sign for The Sun newspaper was all that remained of the old milk bar. In a nostalgic moment he took a photo of the building, which sparked his interest in preserving memories of small businesses in photographs.
Since then Mr Donnelly has taken thousands of images as part of his The Milk Bars Project. He has also received hundreds of photos from people sharing their own memories of small businesses. It became a conversation starter and, as Mr Donnelly discovered, a topic that people everywhere love to talk about. Over the past two months, he has taken his mission further, working with Shop Small to capture photos of a range of small businesses across the country.
Read more here
By Katrina Konstas